Serv"ile (?), a. [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.]

1.

Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience.

She must bend the servile knee.
Thomson.

Fearing dying pays death servile breath.
Shak.

2.

Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved.

Even fortune rules no more, O servile land!
Pope.

3. Gram.

  1. Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter.
  2. Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.

 

© Webster 1913.


Serv"ile, n. Gram.

An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.

 

© Webster 1913.

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